Spy chief defends Obama administration
In a statement, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr.
weighs in on the deadly assault on the U.S. mission in Libya.
(
by Greg Miller
, The Washington Post)

China’s currency rising against the dollar
The value of China’s yuan closed Friday near a record high against the
dollar, approaching what some analysts consider a fair market price and
potentially easing concerns that the country’s currency policy is
damaging the U.S. economy.
(
by Howard Schneider
, The Washington Post)

Romney attacked on Chinese investments
The Obama campaign says it is inappropriate for a presidential nominee to be investing so much money there.
(
by Philip Rucker and Jia Lynn Yang
, The Washington Post)

BofA to Pay $2.43 Billion to End Shareholder Suit Over Merrill
Bank of America Corp. agreed to a $2.43 billion settlement with
investors who suffered losses during its acquisition of Merrill Lynch
& Co., resolving one of the biggest legal battles to stem from the
takeover.
(
by Zachary Tracer and Bradley Keoun
Bloomberg News
, Bloomberg)

Spy chief defends Obama administration
In a statement, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr.
weighs in on the deadly assault on the U.S. mission in Libya.
(
by Greg Miller
, The Washington Post)

Bo Xilai ousted from Communist Party
Once-powerful official, accused of multiple crimes, purged from ranks in advance of leadership transition.
(
by William Wan
, The Washington Post)

June 30, 2012

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS Strong thunderstorms roll through D.C., bringing destructive winds and outages An extensive line of fast moving, violent thunderstorms rolled through the Washington, D.C. metro region late Friday. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the D.C. are and a large reason to the south and west through 1 a.m. As the line moved through, damaging wind gusts of nearly 80 mph were reported. (By Jason Samenow and Theodore Kim)

States consider health-care optionsHow the health-care law affirmed by the Supreme Court will affect you depends on where you live. Here’s a look at the situation in Maryland, Virginia and the District. (By Karen Tumulty and Laura Vozzella)

LOCALTwo killed as powerful storm leaves 1.5 million in D.C. region without power Woman was killed after a tree fell on her house and a man died when a tree collapsed into his car in Springfield. More than 1 million homes and businesses across Maryland and Virginia lost power, with temperatures on Saturday again expected to top 100 degrees. ( by Clarence Williams, Martin Weil and Ashley Halsey III , The Washington Post)

African American churches fight obesity African American congregations in the D.C. area and across the country have decided to give health and wellness the same priority as the word of God. ( by Hamil R. Harris , The Washington Post)

POLITICSStates consider health-care options How the health-care law affirmed by the Supreme Court will affect you depends on where you live. Here’s a look at the situation in Maryland, Virginia and the District. ( by Karen Tumulty and Laura Vozzella , The Washington Post)

STYLEEclectic songs from rising stars Four rising young singers from the Wolf Trap Opera Company presented an intimate, eclectic and individual program of music chosen to accompany paintings from the Phillips Collection. ( by Stephen Brookes , The Washington Post)

‘New Light’ new twist on repertory This year’s New Lights concert, on Thursday at the Clarice Smith Center’s Gildenhorn Hall, began with clapping, and ended with applause. ( by Anne Midgette , The Washington Post)

Torn up over TomKat? You’re not alone. The Washington Post style staffers share your lingering obsession over the now-defunct marriage of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Why? Because we have been captive to this sad circus for so wearyingly and unbelievably long. Because everyone will say they do not care about this, yet everyone will know and talk about this. And because it pains us that culture is like this, but we must observe it anyway, because, God help us, we’re only human. ( by Monica Hesse , The Washington Post)

SPORTSConger makes backstroke final Good Counsel’s Jack Conger, the 2011 and 2012 All-Met Boys’ Swimmer of the Year, advances to the finals of the men’s 200-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. (, The Washington Post)

The ‘Beast’ comes out to play in Atlanta Michael Morse continues his recent tear at the plate, going 4 for 4 while clubbing the decisive home run in the eighth inning as Washington holds on to edge the Braves. ( by James Wagner , The Washington Post)

Seeking the psychological edge Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps continue their duel in Omaha to set the stage for a pivotal showdown Saturday in the 200 medley final. ( by Amy Shipley , The Washington Post)

WORLDU.S. urges China to avoid censorship Bloomberg Web site was blocked after it published an investigative story on wealth amassed by relatives of expected new leader. ( by William Wan and Keith Richburg , The Washington Post)

Morsi defiant on eve of taking office First big public address by Egypt’s new president since his election appeared aimed at ruling generals. ( by Ernesto Londoño and Haitham Mohamed , The Washington Post)

Holder won’t be prosecuted The Justice Department confirms that it will not prosecute Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. for contempt of Congress. ( by Sari Horwitz , The Washington Post)

Iran feels pinch of new sanctions New E.U. and U.S. sanctions are hurting Iran, but experts question whether the end game will work. ( by Jason Rezaian and Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)

June 29, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS Kabul hotel attacked by suicide bombersA squad of bombers and gunmen attacked a landmark hotel in the Afghan capital late Tuesday, exploding a vehicle at its gate and then entering the building. (By Pamela Constable)

D.C. seeks foothold in online gamblingD.C. officials are scrambling to launch an online casino in the city, which is the first jurisdiction in the United States to sanction Internet gambling. (By Michael Laris)

Matching Supreme Court justices The Supreme Court term that ended Monday appeared to make clear that Bush and Obama got what they hoped for when they nominated the justices who will shape the court’s future. ( by Robert Barnes , The Washington Post)

June 27, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS At Fort Campbell, mixed reviews for Afghan planPfc. Rob Nunez, who spent eight months in Konar province near the Pakistani border, and some of his fellow soldiers have vastly different reactions to the plan. (By Kevin Sieff)

Does GOP have a compromise on debt?As President Obama prepares to meet with Senate leaders to try to restart talks over the debt, some Republicans see a potential path to compromise: Significant cuts in military spending. (By Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane)

A pair of veteran spies cross pathsBetty McIntosh and Doris Bohrer served in the OSS and CIA, but their remarkable friendship didn’t form until they moved to the same retirement community. (By Ian Shapira)

AP IMPACT: Once-rural populations skyrocket near some US nuclear plants, evacuations unlikely BUCHANAN, N.Y. — As America’s nuclear power plants have aged, the once-rural areas around them have become far more crowded and much more difficult to evacuate. Yet government and industry have paid little heed, even as plants are running at higher power and posing more danger in the event of an accident, an Associated Press investigation has found. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ask Amy: Husband ’fesses up to old affairs; wife is torn Her husband confessed to indulging in two affairs years ago. She went to counseling with him and was told by the counselor to “get over it.” A) She’s not ready to and B) What kind of therapist is that? (, Tribune Media Service)

PGA Tour: Travelers win is Jacobson’s first title CROMWELL, Conn. — Fredrik Jacobson closed out his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, shooting a 4-under 66 in the Travelers Championship for a one-stroke victory over John Rollins and Ryan Moore. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Real Wheels Live Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry. (, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes! (, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes! (, vForum)

BUSINESSGreek deputies to begin debate on crucial austerity plans before votes ATHENS, Greece — Greek lawmakers begin debating new austerity plans Monday that must pass this week if the debt-ridden country is to receive the critical next installment of loans from its international bailout plan and avoid default. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

June 20, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS McIlroy captures history at CongressionalRory McIlroy posts the lowest mark in tournament history, shooting a final-round 69 for a total of 16-under 268, as he runs away with the 111th U.S. Open. (By Barry Svrluga)

CEO Pay: What the area’s executives makeHefty stock awards and bonuses drove total compensation up over 20 percent for Washington’s highest-paid chief executives last year, reflecting a nationwide trend among the largest public companies. (By Danielle Douglas)

STYLEAsk Amy: Words of love, uttered and ... forgotten? During a weekend outing, her boyfriend told her he loved her, would marry her “in a week” and wanted her to have his baby. The next day, he couldn’t remember what he said. Yes, there was drinking involved. (, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Special guest request Heloise asks: Is it fair to ask for unusual, specialty or hard-to-find food items when you are a guest in someone’s home? Readers, what do you have to say? (, King)

Calm by the green, crazed by the pitch At the U.S. Open and the Gold Cup, vastly dissimilar cultures were on display — entirely different, yet very much the same. ( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

FTC vs. National Gallery Republican lawmaker’s push to have the National Gallery take over the historic FTC building has sparked a turf battle in Washington. ( by Ned Martel , The Washington Post)

Sunday's Sports In Brief BETHESDA, Md. — On another brilliant day of golf, Rory McIlroy ran away with the U.S. Open title, winning by eight shots and breaking the tournament scoring record by a whopping four strokes. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

WORLDReports: Japan's prime minister under pressure to resign next month TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticized for his handling of the tsunami disaster and the country’s sluggish economy, is under pressure to resign next month if budget bills are passed by parliament, reports said Monday. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval, a move that appears to have done little to soothe anger among Republican lawmakers and anti-war Democrats over the president’s consultations with Congress during the nearly three month-long campaign. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Miss Manners: Who wins in ‘culture’ clash? Dear Miss Manners: When cultural differences result in different expectations of the hostess and guest obligations, to whose culture should we defer; the hostess’s or the guest’s? (, United Media)

June 15, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSA tough mission in AfghanistanA low-key Marine, Gen. John R. Allen, is set to take over the war at high-stakes moment.(By Craig Whitlock)

Nuclear waste dump is mired in inertiaYucca Mountain is a case study in government dysfunction and bureaucratic inertia. The project dates back three decades. It has not solved the problem of nuclear waste.(By Joel Achenbach and Brian Vastag)

Bachmann basks in newfound momentumRep. Michele Bachmann enjoyed a day of fundraising, media exposure and glowing analysis of her newfound momentum on Tuesday, following a strong presidential debate performance.(By Amy Gardner and Sandhya Somashekhar)

States seeking to save on MedicaidRepublican governors step up their resistance to rules requiring states to maintain current levels of health-care coverage for the poor and disabled under Medicaid.(By Michael A. Fletcher)

Graduating from elementary school?Dozens of elementary students in the D.C. area are celebrating what some critics call graduation inflation, the growth of ceremonies to mark the end of elementary school. (By Steve Hendrix)

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-QaidaWASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-QaidaWASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ask Amy: Military couple failing basic trainingA military couple who live in separate states, decided to set up joint checking and savings accounts to strengthen their bond. Alas, one side didn’t practice complete transparency. (, Tribune Media Service)

Tuesday's Sports In BriefNEW YORK — An end to the NFL lockout might not be imminent, but it does appears much closer than at any point in the last three months. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Attack on Afghan governor’s office kills 8MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded four in a strike Wednesday on the governor’s office in a northeastern province, while a mortar targeted a building where NATO and Afghan officials were attending the inauguration of the country’s largest police training center in central Afghanistan. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

UK government to back proposals to separate banksLONDON — The British government intends to force banks to insulate their retail operations from their more volatile investment banking, a Treasury source confirmed Wednesday. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Romney will skip Iowa straw poll in AugustFormer Massachusetts governor, widely regarded as the front-runner in the GOP presidential race, has decided not to participate in this year’s Iowa straw poll nor any other early tests in advance of the 2012 primaries and caucuses, his campaign announced Thursday night. (By Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza)

Senate legislation may slow, but quorums continueThe old ritual of calling senators to the Senate floor to bide time, “quorum calls,” has increased dramatically. Meanwhile, the amount of legislative business the body conducts is down. (By David A. Fahrenthold)

An embassy-in-exileAmerican diplomats who evacuated from Libya are still working — in a makeshift mission at the State Department. (By Mary Beth Sheridan)

Redistricting stalemate in Virginia The GOP-controlled Virginia House of Delegates and the Democratic-led state Senate approved conflicting plans for redistricting. ( by Rosalind S. Helderman , The Washington Post)

Ask Amy: Learning the truth about the past I come from a very large family — eight sisters and three brothers. By the time I was 8, my father and mother had both died. I went to live with my oldest sister (also the oldest child in the family) and her husband and his son. (, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Sanitizing a spa tub I am requesting a suggestion for deep-cleaning or sanitizing my spa tub. I’ve just cleaned it and scrubbed the jets with an old toothbrush. I want to be certain that all bacteria is gone so I can feel good about getting in my spa tub. (, King)

SPORTSThursday's Sports In Brief OSLO, Norway — Usain Bolt ran the fastest time in the world this season as he eased to victory in the 200 meters at a Diamond League meet, while Caster Semenya finished third behind Halima Hachlaf in the 800 meters. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gates says NATO has a ‘dim’ future BRUSSELS — America’s military alliance with Europe — the cornerstone of U.S. security policy for six decades — faces a “dim, if not dismal” future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday in a blunt valedictory address. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Karzai arrives in Pakistan for reconciliation talks Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Islamabad Friday for talks with top Pakistani leaders amid cautious hopes that the two nations can forge a coordinated strategy for reconciling with insurgents. ( by Griff Witte and Pamela Constable , The Washington Post)

June 06, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS Yemen’s Saleh flies to Saudi ArabiaPresident Ali Abdullah Saleh’s departure raised the prospect that a key U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda had lost his grip on a nation tumbling into chaos. (By Ernesto Londono and Sudarsan Raghavan)

Redesigning Metro’s mapLance Wyman, the creator of the transit system’s colorful map, has the challenge of redesigning the map more than three decades later. (By Dana Hedgpeth)

Wireless Net access, GPS on collision courseTwo of 21st-century America’s favorite gadgets — the smartphone and the GPS device — are on a collision course, according to a report delivered Friday to the FAA. (By Ashley Halsey III)

Egyptians say economy is top concernA U.S. government-funded poll finds most Egyptians say they backed the revolution because of their economic difficulties, not a lack of democracy. (By Mary Beth Sheridan)

Cut the costs, cache the cash A new cost-cutting effort by Montgomery County is encouraging employees to come up with ways to save taxpayers money. ( by Michael Laris , The Washington Post)

Sulaimon Brown shows money orders The former D.C. mayoral candidate says they were given to him by Howard Brooks as part of payments he says he received to disparage Mayor Fenty during the campaign. ( by Nikita Stewart , The Washington Post)

Waiting for the promise of high-speed rail Critics say Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell missed an opportunity when his administration decided not to apply for federal funds. ( by Anita Kumar , The Washington Post)

STYLEMiss Manners: Overwhelmed by photo requests I seem to be the only person in the last several years who has taken a camera to parties, family gatherings, school plays, etc.Afterward and sometimes during the event, I am asked to take pictures and “send” them to several people. (, United Media)

Ask Amy: This mom has had it with gift tradition Dear Amy:How can I (or should I?) tactfully end obligatory gift-giving among relatives who barely know one another? I suggested a couple of times that we end this tradition, but it was poorly received each time. (, Tribune Media Service)

LIVE DISCUSSIONSRecovering from the 2011 Post Hunt The Washington Post Hunt is a game of brainteasers, humor, puzzles and family fun dreamed up by Dave Barry, Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder. The 2011 Post Hunt is set for June 5 in downtown Washington, D.C. (, vForum)

The 2011 Post Hunt: Are you ready? The Washington Post Hunt is a game of brainteasers, humor, puzzles and family fun dreamed up by Dave Barry, Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder. The 2011 Post Hunt is set for June 5 in downtown Washington, D.C. (, vForum)

May 30, 2011

WASHINGTON — For the first time in its history, Medicare will soon track spending on millions of individual beneficiaries, reward hospitals that hold down costs and penalize those whose patients prove most expensive.

The administration plans to establish “Medicare spending per beneficiary” as a new measure of hospital performance, just like the mortality rate for heart attack patients and the infection rate for surgery patients.

Hospitals could be held accountable not only for the cost of the care they provide, but also for the cost of services performed by doctors and other health care providers in the 90 days after a Medicare patient leaves the hospital.

This plan has drawn fire from hospitals, which say they have little control over services provided after a patient’s discharge — and, in many cases, do not even know about them. More generally, they are apprehensive about Medicare’s plans to reward and penalize hospitals based on untested measures of efficiency that include spending per beneficiary.

A major goal of the new health care law, often overlooked, is to improve “the quality and efficiency of health care” by linking payments to the performance of health care providers. The new Medicare initiative, known as value-based purchasing, will redistribute money among more than 3,100 hospitals.

Medicare will begin computing performance scores in July, for monetary rewards and penalties that start in October 2012.

The desire to reward hospitals for high-quality care is not new or controversial. The idea can be traced back to a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress in 2005, when Democrats and Republicans were still working together on health care. However, adding in “efficiency” is entirely new and controversial, as no consensus exists on how to define or measure the efficiency of health care providers. SOURCE:NYTIMES.COM

May 27, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS CIA to search bin Laden compoundThe arrangement would allow the CIA for the first time to enter a complex that it had previously scrutinized only from a distance. (By Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung)

Serbia arrests Ratko Mladic on war crimes chargesRatko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general charged with orchestrating the largest mass killing of civilians in Europe since World War II, was arrested Thursday in Serbia, ending a nearly 16-year manhunt. (By Colum Lynch)

Online letters claim innocence in Md. slayingAn interest in yoga brought a businessman-poet and AU professor together. Now he’s accused in her death. In online letters, the man — believed to be in Mexico — says he’s not guilty. (By Dan Morse)

Mitt Romney launching campaign on June 2 Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will formally announce his presidential campaign next Thursday, June 2, in New Hampshire. (By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner)

POLITICSObama signs Patriot Act extension; will continue anti-terror surveillance powers WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress approves extension of Patriot Act provisions Racing against the clock, Congress passed an extension to key provisions of the USA Patriot Act that allow investigators to keep using aggressive surveillance tactics. ( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)

Gingrich casts self as ‘comeback kid’ The roughly 600 people who came to see Newt Gingrich during his two-day campaign swing through New Hampshire were largely uninterested in his purchases at Tiffany & Co. ( by Nia-Malika Henderson and Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)

Paul and the Other Paul The most memorable moment of Paul Simon’s concert comes with the star attraction happily observing. ( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)

SPORTSTillman’s tactics help Terps The Final Four-bound Maryland men’s lacrosse team has responded to first-year Coach John Tillman’s team-building techniques. ( by Christian Swezey , The Washington Post)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes! (, vForum)

Competing plans on job growth President Obama and Congressional Republicans unveil competing plans to reduce the cost of doing business for U.S. companies. ( by Zachary A. Goldfarb , The Washington Post)

Ex-Nasdaq exec pleads guilty to fraud Former executive traded on confidential information about companies listed on the Nasdaq, reaping more than $755,000 from 2006 to 2009. ( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)

Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson agreed with the states that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. He went a step further than a previous ruling against the law, declaring the entire thing unconstitutional if the insurance requirement does not hold up.

Attorneys for the administration had argued that the states did not have standing to challenge the law and that the case should be dismissed.

"There is clear and well-established legal precedent that Congress acted within its constitutional authority in passing this law and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail on appeal," she said in a statement.

The final step will almost certainly be the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have already upheld the law and a federal judge in Virginia ruled the insurance mandate unconstitutional but stopped short of voiding the entire thing.

At issue was whether the government is reaching beyond its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce by requiring citizens to purchase health insurance or face tax penalties.

Vinson, who was appointed to federal bench by Ronald Reagan in 1983, said it is, writing in his 78-page ruling that if the government can require people to buy health insurance, it could also regulate food the same way.

"Or, as discussed during oral argument, Congress could require that people buy and consume broccoli at regular intervals," he wrote, "Not only because the required purchases will positively impact interstate commerce, but also because people who eat healthier tend to be healthier, and are thus more productive and put less of a strain on the health care system."

Obama administration attorneys had argued that health care is part of the interstate commerce system. They said the government can impose a tax penalty on Americans who decide not to purchase health insurance because all Americans are consumers of medical care.

But attorneys for the states said the administration was essentially coercing them into participating in the overhaul by holding billions of Medicaid dollars hostage. The states also said the federal government is violating the Constitution by forcing a mandate on the states without providing money to pay for it.

Vinson said the courts have generally not accepted similar arguments about Medicaid as a violation of state sovereignty and that the states did not provide enough evidence in this case.

"I appreciate the difficult situation in which the states find themselves," he wrote. "It is a matter of historical fact that at the time the Constitution was drafted and ratified, the Founders did not expect that the federal government would be able to provide sizable funding to the states and, consequently, be able to exert power over the state to the extent that it currently does."

He said that the only way the states would have legal standing to claim the Medicaid portion of the law is coercion would be for the Supreme Court to change the Constitution.

"Unless and until that happens, the states have little recourse to remaining the very junior partner in this partnership," Vinson wrote.

Still, opponents of the health overhaul praised his decision Monday afternoon. House Speaker John Boehner said it shows Senate Democrats should follow a House vote to repeal the law.

"Today's decision affirms the view, held by most of the states and a majority of the American people, that the federal government should not be in the business of forcing you to buy health insurance and punishing you if you don't," he said in a statement.

Democrats just as quickly slammed the ruling.

"This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt by those who want to raise taxes on small businesses, increase prescription prices for seniors and allow insurance companies to once again deny sick children medical care," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a prepared statement.

Former Florida Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum filed the lawsuit just minutes after President Barack Obama signed the 10-year, $938 billion health care bill into law in March. He chose a court in Pensacola, one of Florida's most conservative cities. The nation's most influential small business lobby, the National Federation of Independent Business, also joined.

Officials in the states that sued lauded Vinson's decision. Almost all of them have Republican governors, attorneys general or both.

"In making his ruling, the judge has confirmed what many of us knew from the start; ObamaCare is an unprecedented and unconstitutional infringement on the liberty of the American people," Florida GOP Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement.

Obama's Approval Ratings UpWhile Sarah Palin's popularity hits an all-time low, President Obama is gaining support in the lead-up to next week's State of the Union.Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

UK Bans Pastor Terry "Burn A Koran" Jones Jones tried to organize a mass burning of the Koran on the most recent anniversary of 9/11. The Brits aren't too keen on him promoting his book, Islam Is of the Devil, in the UK.Read original story in CNN | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

NASA Swaps Astronaut After Bike Accident Timothy Kopra will no longer be part of the crew piloting the space shuttle Discovery next month after falling off his bike. In related troubles, NASA has already selected a backup commander of the Endeavour to step into the boots of commander Mark Kelly, husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Read original story in AP | Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011

Philadelphia Abortion Doc Charged With MurderDr. Kermit Gosnell, who performed late-term abortions in West Philadelphia for decades, allegedly severed babies' spinal cords with scissors after they were born alive and operated on women in conditions so dangerous that one of them died.Read original story in CBS Philly | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Giffords Will Leave Hospital FridayLess than two weeks after being shot in the head, the congresswoman will leave Tucson for a Houston rehabilitation hospital.Read original story in Politico | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

January 13, 2011

On Friday, January 14 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN, Anderson Cooper will host a special one-hour broadcast Hope Survives: 30 Years of AIDS. Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, will join Sir Elton John, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Mo'Nique and others to provide insight and perspective on HIV/AIDS in the U.S., with a focus on stigma and the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans and men who have sex with men. Phill will highlight pressing challenges and notable accomplishments, including the role of Greater Than AIDS - a new national movement to unite Americans on HIV/AIDS developed with the Kaiser Family Foundation.

As part of the show, CNN has filmed a montage with celebrities sharing personal "Deciding Moments" that changed how they thought about the disease and inspired them to get involved. As part of the Greater Than AIDS movement, hundreds of everyday Americans have already submitted their "Deciding Moments."

November 30, 2010

State regulators on Monday announced nearly $5 million in fines against California's seven largest health plans for underpaying claims to thousands of doctors and hospitals.

The health insurers also will have to pay tens of millions of dollars in restitution to those who were underpaid, said Cindy Ehnes, director of the California Department of Managed Health Care.

The penalties are the result of an 18-month audit launched after providers complained about long-standing difficulties in getting reimbursed properly and on time.

The insurers will be required to submit plans for changing their payment practices to avoid such problems in the future.

"California's hospitals and physicians must be paid fairly and on time," Ehnes said. "Providers are struggling to stay afloat in a very difficult business environment. Improper payment of provider claims runs the risk that our health care delivery system could grind to a halt."

A spokesman for the plans said they will collaborate with state officials.

"We have long recognized that the administrative side of health care coverage can take valuable time away from patient care, which is why the plans have been working to

streamline processes both at the health plan level and in doctors' offices," said Patrick Johnston, president and chief executive officer of the California Association of Health Plans.

"California health plans remain dedicated to these efforts and will continue to work to make our system more efficient and effective to help prevent errors, reduce costs and ensure resources are devoted to patient care," he said in a written statement.

The state allows a 5 percent error rate, but the audit found that on average, insurers failed to pay about 20 percent of claims properly, Ehnes said.

When the audit began, insurers were failing to pay some claims within the required 45 working days, said Lynne Randolph, spokeswoman for the Department of Managed Health Care. Since then, however, many of the plans are paying on time, but not always the proper amount, she added.

Ehnes said she decided to order the audit after one frustrated provider told her that submitting a bill for payment was little more than "a ticket to chase payment," instead of a guarantee of payment.

The fines drew praise from a consumer health advocate who worries about the time diverted when providers seek reimbursement.

"Consumers would rather that the time and resources of health providers go to patient care, rather than in fighting to get insurers to pay correctly," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California.

Ehnes estimated that about 70 percent of the restitution payments will go to hospitals and about 30 percent to physicians.

The audit also found flaws in the appeals process that providers must use to protest an underpaid bill or claims denial. Ehnes noted that with some firms, the appeal goes directly to the same person or department that made the original decision, virtually guaranteeing the same result.

Five of the seven plans were found to have flawed dispute procedures. The exceptions were Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California, which met requirements, Ehnes said.

After insurers submit their corrective action plans, the Department of Managed Health Care will do a follow-up audit within 18 months to ensure that the changes are made, Ehnes said.

"Health plans have to know that you mean business and they have to know you will follow up," she said.

October 25, 2010

WASHINGTON – The new health care law wasn't supposed to undercut employer plans that have provided most people in the U.S. with coverage for generations.

But last week a leading manufacturer told workers their costs will jump partly because of the law. Also, a Democratic governor laid out a scheme for employers to get out of health care by shifting workers into taxpayer-subsidized insurance markets that open in 2014.

While it's too early to proclaim the demise of job-based coverage, corporate number crunchers are looking at options that could lead to major changes.

"The economics of dropping existing coverage is about to become very attractive to many employers, both public and private," said Gov. Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn.

That's just not going to happen, White House officials say.

"The absolute certainty about the Affordable Care Act is that for many, many employers who cover millions of people, it increases the incentives for them to offer coverage," said Jason Furman, an economic adviser to President Barack Obama.

Yet at least one major employer has shifted a greater share of plan costs to workers, and others are weighing the pros and cons of eventually forcing employees to strike out on their own.

"I don't think you are going to hear anybody publicly say 'We've made a decision to drop insurance,' " said Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "What we are hearing in our meetings is, 'We don't want to be the first one to drop benefits, but we would be the fast second.' We are hearing that a lot." Deloitte is a major accounting and consulting firm.

"My conclusion on all of this is that it is a huge roll of the dice," said James Klein, president of the American Benefits Council, which represents big company benefits administrators. "It could work out well and build on the employer-based system, or it could begin to dismantle the employer-based system."

Employer health benefits have been a middle-class mainstay since World War II, when companies were encouraged to offer health insurance instead of pay raises. About 150 million workers and family members are now covered.

When lawmakers debated the legislation, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected it would only have minimal impact on employer plans. About 3 million fewer people would be covered through the job, but they'd be able to get insurance elsewhere. CONTINUE READING

August 04, 2010

EXCERPT FROM LA TIMES - You may support California’s Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, because you think the war on drugsunfairly target minorities. You may be in favor of it because you think it's up to you,
not the government, to decide what substances you'd like to consume as
long as you don't harm others. Or you may be sympathetic to the ballot
measure based on the testimonials of patients with cancer or AIDS who
swear that medical marijuana helps them cope with their illness.

But if pot is made legal, what would that mean for public health in the
Golden State? Nothing good, says Keith Humphreys, a professor of
psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine.

Humphreys, a clinical psychologist who recently spent a year in the
Obama administration's Office of National Drug Control Policy as a
senior policy advisor, says the health effects of Proposition 19 are
being overlooked by the 52% of Californians who supported the measure
in recent poll. In a podcast
available on the Stanford website, he says his No. 1 fear is that it
would create a lucrative product line for tobacco companies or create
an industry that would stand "shoulder to shoulder with them lobbying
against every anti-smoking restriction and expansion of public health
and every taxation initiative."

Cigarettes still kill 400,000 people each year despite decades of
regulation and anti-smoking campaigns, Humphreys said. But there's
reason to fear that Proposition 19 could make things worse. In European
countries like Holland, tobacco and marijuana are often smoked together
and the combination is "both more addictive and more cancer-producing
than either of those separately," he said.

Though Humphreys said he has no doubt that marijuana has legitimate
medical uses, and compounds within the plant will probably be turned
into "maybe half a dozen decent medications" to alleviate pain, improve
appetite and treat muscle spasms for patients with multiple sclerosis.
But that doesn't mean consumption of the entire plant -- which contains
more than 200 chemicals -- is either beneficial or safe, especially
when smoked, he said.

"Cocaine has medical uses," especially as an anesthetic, Humphreys
said, but that doesn't mean it "should be available at 7-Eleven."

September 2012

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